The Lions made several roster moves to help them prepare to take on the Vikings in Week 18.
The Detroit Lions made several roster changes, just over 24 hours, ahead of their all-important Week 18 matchup with the Minnesota Vikings.
In addition to activating LB Alex Anzalone and WR/RET Kalif Raymond from injured reserve, the Lions placed CB Emmanuel Mosely on the reserve/non-football illness list (NFI), signed DB Morice Norris to the active roster in a corresponding move, elevated DL Chris Smith and CB Stantley Thomas-Oliver from the practice squad for the Vikings game, and re-signed WR Tom Kennedy to the practice squad.
Emmanuel Moseley to NFI
Moseley missed all three practices with an illness this week, was ruled out on Friday, and placed on the NFI on Saturday. The “illness” designation is a very broad category in NFL terms, as we have seen from rookie offensive lineman Christian Mahogany. Mahogany missed all of training camp and a big chuck on the season while on the NFI, dealing with mononucleosis (mono). Then, just this week, he missed practice with an “illness” designation, but that was more closely related to a common 24-hour bug, and was back on the field the next day.
For Moseley, it’s unclear what his “illness” is, but by being placed on the NFI, he is required to miss at least four weeks, and his season is likely close to, if not over. It’s been a tough road over the last few seasons for Moseley, working his way back from two ACL surgeries, as well as some other nagging injuries, and he was never able to get on the field for more than a few snaps for the Lions. He’ll enter the offseason on an expiring contract.
Morice Norris signed
Norris will take Moseley’s spot on the roster, and while not a direct one-for-one replacement, there is a lot of crossover to their games. Norris is a natural slot corner, who was cross-trained at safety in training camp and figures to help off the Lions’ depth in the slot (behind Brian Branch) as well as provide special teams reps. While Moseley has outside corner experience, he was repping exclusively in the slot in training camp and never saw the field on defense during the regular season, so Norris should be very capable of filling the vacated role—if not providing even more security.
Chris Smith elevated
Smith spent three weeks on the roster earlier in the season and was elevated last week, making this elevation his fifth game of the season for the Lions. Smith has only played on 38 defensive snaps and registered just two tackles on the season, but he is a solid insurance option on a thin interior defensive line.
Stantley Thomas-Oliver elevated
Thomas-Oliver hasn’t played a defensive snap in the NFL since 2021, but he has played on special teams, and figures to only see the field in the third phase of the game. That being said, with only three outside corners on the roster ahead of him, he’ll need to be ready to contribute at a moment’s notice.
No RB elevation is good news for Craig Reynolds
Additionally, by not elevating a running back for this game, it certainly means good news for Craig Reynolds’ status. Reynolds showed up on Friday’s injury report with a back injury, but with no added reinforcements, it likely means he should be ready to play. If he isn’t, get ready for more opportunities for rookie Sione Vaki behind starter Jahmyr Gibbs.
Tom Kennedy re-signed to practice squad
And last but not least, Kennedy returns to the practice squad after filling in for Raymond during his stint on injured reserve. Kennedy is a reliable veteran that the Lions are fortunate to be able to turn to when they need him.
Summary
- LB Alex Anzalone removed from IR, added to the 53-man roster
- WR/RET Kalif Raymond removed from IR, added to the 53-man roster
- CB Emmanuel Mosely placed on NFI
- DB Morice Norris signed to active roster
- DL Chris Smith elevated to game day roster
- CB Stantley Thomas-Oliver elevated to game day roster
- WR Tom Kennedy re-signed to the practice squad
